KURT SCHWITTERS (1887-1948) & THEO VAN DOESBURG (1883-1931)
KLEINE DADA SOIRÉE. Print and wrapper. 1922.
11¾x12 inches, 30x30½ cm. Condition A-: minor creases and abrasions at edges and along vertical and horizontal folds; slight foxing in image; mounted on Japan.
With - De Stijl dispatch wrapper, 1926, by van Doesberg (11½x6¼ inches).
Late in 1922, Schwitters and van Doesburg planned a small tour around the Netherlands with a traveling Dada show in order to introduce local artists to their work. The initial evening had been scheduled for December 27, but Schwitters had problems with his passport and the first show was delayed until January 10. In all, there were 17 separate performances in 8 different locations. The first event was held at the Haagsche Kunstkring in The Hague. The address of the venue is included in the poster's upper right corner ("Haagsche K.K. Binnenhof 8"). For subsequent performances in other locations, the poster was slightly changed; this address was removed and a small plug for van Doesburg's Dada magazine, Mécano, was added that read, "Abonnement Mécano F5 per Jaar." Otherwise, the two versions of the poster are identical. The poster has the event program and Dada slogans presented in sophisticated disorder, using different hand drawn typography and varying font sizes. "The poster's discordant appearance reflects the tenor of many Dada evenings" (moma.org/learn).
This is the rare 2nd version that we have offered only once before at Swann.
